This was a page turner that I just couldn’t put down. I finished it quickly and definitely recommend.

The Missing Hours is about a girl who seemed to have it all on the surface, but was in fact carrying some heavy baggage.
I will not soon forget this one.

The Missing Hours brands itself as a thriller, but I think that's a mistake. This book is the all-too-real tale of a female college student after she's been raped. And there's no avoiding that being the main topic of the book, so if that's triggering for you, please stay away. Yes, there are elements of revenge, and our MC Claudia does go on the run, but she's not in any real danger, and the confrontations are minimal. The book is an interesting look into the psyche of everyone involved, be it Claudia, the rapists, Claudia's sister, her parents, Claudia's friends, and those more tangentially but strongly bonded to what happened. At times, this book can be hard to get through because it will leave you so angry, and the conclusion is good though maybe not quite the vindication we all want--perhaps more realistic. I wouldn't really read this if you're looking for an adrenaline-inducing thriller or quasi-mystery. In most ways, this book is just fiction. And that's the most chill-inducing part...

Thank you to Minotaur for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 8/10

I flew through THE MISSING HOURS by @msjuliadahl this weekend! Huge thanks to @minotaur_books and @netgalley for my physical and digital review copies! This one comes out this Tuesday, September 14!

TW: rape, alcohol abuse, sexual violence, recording of sexual act, assault,

This book comes on the heels of the #metoo movement and shows just how much privilege goes in “protecting” loved ones even when they have done something atrocious. The attitudes of most of the young, college men in this book, just show you how much more work needs to be done. While I was disgusted at how they acted, I wasn’t overly surprised. This is still the culture we (women) sadly live in.

What I liked about this book was how it brought attention to this current issue, and how men can’t and won’t get away with one violent act they try to brush aside as “only a sex tape” Claudia’s family was there for her, in their own way, once they realized what had happened to her. Claudia didn’t think her family would help her, that’s why she didn’t turn to them right away. This book shows the strength and bond between a family (albeit, a broken one) to protect one another.

There are a lot of different perspectives we get in this book. Some I think were not needed, but it does add to the story to get the full picture. This was a fast paced book that I would recommend!

From a strong beginning to a fizzled ending is how I feel about The Missing Hours. I was immediately drawn in and sympathetic toward Claudia Castro. Claudia is rich, is an Instagram influencer, has well-known parents, SNL likes to party. Unfortunately, she has an evening she does not remember. She was raped, injured,… the scene in the hospital was so realistic, and it drew this reader into the story immediately. Then, the video of the event arrives. She gains the help of Trevor who deeply cares for her,
In the midst of all of this, Claudia decides to get revenge. For me, the story starts to fall apart for the rest of the book. I feel like I wasted my time, and for me, the ending was unsatisfying. My thanks to St. Martin’’s, Minotaur, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

Claudia Castro seems to have it all. She comes from family money, has managed to build a huge Instagram following, and has landed a spot at NYU. But everything is about to change for Claudia. After a night of drinking and partying, Claudia Castro wakes up to find herself in pain and a victim of rape. To make matters worse, the encounter has been captured on a cell phone video. Claudia seeks help from a classmate named Trevor. She is desperate to piece together the events that she can’t remember.

I found myself glued to the pages of THE MISSING HOURS. It was a quick and easy read for me and I loved the the storyline. Although Claudia seemed to have it all, life is not always what it seems to be on social media. I really enjoyed learning about all of the characters in Claudia’s family, they all had their own stories to tell. I will definitely not forget this book anytime soon!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Minotaur books) for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) on September 13, 2021.

The Missing Hours by Julia Dahl is an enthralling and engrossing read with a great plot and characters! Well worth the read

This was a well written book, I felt like it was very well thought out, the storyline seemed realistic and the dialogue was natural. It had true emotion to it and I felt for the characters. I would love to read more by this author.

Claudia is a privileged, wealthy student at NYU, when she wakes up one morning obviously after a sexual assault, even she doesn’t want to believe it. When she receives a video of the attack, Claudia disappears. No one knows where Claudia is. Very few know what happened to cause Claudia to run. Is she OK, or is there more to the story? This book started strong, but lost its drive along the way. I had high hopes for a compelling different outcome, but instead it took the cliched route. Two wrongs don’t make a right and I wish when the fork in the road was reached, the turn would have been in the opposite direction!

When Claudia, a college student, wakes up after a night of partying, it's clear, oh so clear, that she was assaulted. And then she sees a video of what happened and disappears. At the same time, her sister Edie, who has just given birth and she's not only angry that Claudia is nowhere to be found, she's also worried. Claudia and Edie have been struggling with their parents and now with their own lives. And then the revenge starts. Told from several points of view, this starts strong (and disturbing) and finishes in a somewhat familiar fashion. That's not to say that I didn't find it quite the page turner because it is. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

The Missing Hours is Julia Dahl’s first stand-alone crime novel and with it she proves herself an astute chronicler of human nature – especially when in the midst of stress-fueled incidents and trauma recovery. Dahl wastes no time before throwing readers into a troubling situation and follows it up with a propulsive through line that practically demands a one-sit reading experience.

Claudia Castro lives the privileged life her wealthy upbringing afforded her. She has parlayed this notoriety into trendy Instagram fame, acceptance into the new freshman class at NYU, and the general perks of popularity. But she has also felt the sting of having her every move documented for the masses. So, it makes perfect sense when Claudia wakes from a drunken stupor, with only the vaguest of memories from the previous evening, that she freaks out and isolates herself.

During this self-imposed exile, Claudia’s sister goes into early labor and when Claudia is a no-show at the hospital, the family chalks it up to Claudia’s youthful, selfish behavior. Unaware of the family drama occurring over a number of weeks, Claudia connects with another resident in her dorm building, Trevor, and begins to rely on him to bring her food and information about the outside world.

That is until a scandalous video shot during Claudia’s “blackout” surfaces, and everyone is shocked and confused by what they are seeing. After attempting to reach Claudia, her family’s worries escalate, reaching a fever pitch when they discover that the young woman seems to have vanished.

The novel’s title alone serves multiple purposes – it is clearly meant to call to mind the actions of the traumatic evening, which Claudia cannot completely recollect, but it is also an apt description of that time-period when the Castro family and friends are unable to locate Claudia.

Julia Dahl cleverly uses three points-of-view to unspool her narrative. Readers are privy to Claudia’s thoughts and concerns about what happened that evening, they are given a glimpse into her family life via her sister, Edie, and then they witness the shifting notions that plague Trevor as he tries to make an honest connection with Claudia. As these points-of-view reflect off each other and weave into a whole cloth account of what occurred, readers remain one step ahead of all the characters. Thus, as things shift from confusion and concern to blame and revenge, Julia Dahl needs no help in convincing readers of the correct course of action.

This is a writer unwilling to pull any punches when it comes to documenting Claudia’s journey towards understanding and recovery. Julia Dahl skillfully makes the reader complicit in all the various forms of trauma faced by women and their bodies, thereby eliciting the empathy that is needed for this storyline to succeed. Because the reading experience is so speedy, many readers will not realize just how affected they are by the multiple plot threads until they finish the novel and are able to reflect on these characters and what they have gone through.

Unforgettable is a word that is too often used when describing the plots of books and films, but with The Missing Hours, Julia Dahl has indeed crafted a work that will linger in readers minds for years to come. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a string of powerful stand-alone novels from this talented author.

The Missing Hours felt a little like a YA or New Adult thriller, and I don’t mean that as a negative. Several of the characters are college students or recent graduates and some of the book takes place on and around the New York University campus. As a former NYU student myself, I loved being back in that world.

Claudia Castro is young, rich, and living on her own in New York City. But one morning she wakes up in her dorm room, obviously injured and unable to remember what happened to her. It’s spring break, so not a lot of people are around, but with the help of a fellow student, she tries to piece together who she was with and what happened to her.

I'll add a content warning: this book deals with sexual assault. It’s also one of the better revenge thrillers I’ve read. I was both horrified by what happened to Claudia and completely gripped as she decides to take matters into her own hands and get back at the people responsible for her assault. It’s also a story about family dysfunction, the way that class and privilege intersect with the justice system, and the difficulties of sexual assault victims getting justice.

I found The Missing Hours to be suspenseful, heart-breaking, and really well done. It can be a tough read at times, but I thought it was well worth it.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Julia Dahl, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Having never read anything by Julia Dahl, I was eager to give this standalone novel a try. Dahl writes in a gritty and fast-paced fashion, perfect for those who love a story that never gives the reader time to enter a lull. When Claudia Castro realises that she’s been raped, it is a mix of embarrassment and determination that fuels her to move forward. With the help of an unlikely dorm mate, Claudia soon realises that she’s been a target of revenge porn, as a video of the act surfaces. Now, she’s determined to get her own retribution and make a statement that she is not to be treated so poorly. With a little help, she’s able to put the wheels in motion to show that she is stronger than any boy who thinks she can be used for their own pleasure! A great piece that has me eager to see what else Julia Dahl and penned!

When Claudia Castro woke in her dorm room, she knew something was the matter. The night before had been a haze, but the burning sensation between her legs was indicative of something, and she could not remember consenting. With the place almost empty because of Spring Break, Claudia is left to stew, but comes across Trevor, who seems eager to help however he can.

While Claudia comes from a family with money, Trevor has lived the simple life in Ohio before making his way to New York City. Together, the unlikely pair connect, though never romantically, as they maneuver their way through Claudia’s rape and how to handle it. Having missed her sister giving birth, Claudia knows that she will have to tell her family one thing, but she has yet to cobble together a story that will fit the bill.

When Trevor receives an anonymous text with a video of the rape, he’s enraged. It’s two boys that Claudia knew from her time at NYU, more trouble than they are worth. While they are content to say that it’s ‘just Claudia being her slutty self’, Trevor takes offence and lets Claudia convince him that they need to act. With money burning in her pocket, Claudia has a plan, but it will take time and precision to work.

As Claudia and Trevor work to exact their own form of revenge, they are fulled by the fact that this was no simple act of young people goofing off. It’s time to show that the victim need not wait for the legal process to run its course. The missing hours may still be blurry, but Claudia intends to make those who participated feel her wrath. A jolting story that sped along at a wonderful pace.

The premise of the book left me curious and yet slightly unnerved, though I was intrigued to see how Julia Dahl might handle it. Having written a few thrillers before, I knew Dahl would jump headlong into things and she did well to capture my attention from the outset. This is a story that is sure to keep the reader flipping pages, if only to see how everyone plays a part in the larger whole and what sort of revenge can be expected.

Dahl uses a wonderful collection of characters, depicted well throughout the narrative. Contrasting the rich with the more ‘grounded’ provided the reader with great comparisons as to the tools available for retribution. Backstories and development occurred in equal measure throughout, keeping the reader attentive so as not to miss anything being offered. The flippant nature of some who play a role in the story made it all the more believable, especially when the narrative explores so many perspectives. That said, Claudia and Trevor surely steal the show as strong and multi-faceted protagonists.

Dahl uses her skills to explore the themes effectively throughout the narrative. Perhaps her greatest feat in a story of this type is to use varying narrative perspectives, bringing many of her characters into the central role and telling events from their own experiences. This helps quicken the pace of the plot and keeps the reader aware of all that is going on throughout the development of events. Chapters flowed freely, usually quick and to the point, leaving the reader to desire more as the story unfolds. I was captivated with it throughout, even if the subject matter got dark or sometimes quite violent. Told over a few weeks, the plot never lost its intensity or left the reader feeling less than satisfied with the end result, which comes in the final pages of this well-paced novel. I am eager to explore more of Julia Dahl’s work before too long.

Kudos, Madam Dahl, for a great introduction to your writing. I am definitely going to explore some of your other writing to see if it is just as captivating.

Claudia is a wealthy, privileged college student. Her father is a successful music producer and her mom was a famous fashion model. She grew up with a lofty allowance, shopping sprees are the norm. One drunken weekend she wakes up with no memories from the night before, but she does know she was sexually assaulted. Then to her horror, a video surfaces from that night and Claudia is forced to face her worst nightmares. Her family is very worried about her when she runs off on her own as she tries to piece together those lost hours.

Told in multiple POV, this story will have you flipping through the pages to find out what happens next. I loved how Claudia did not want to be victimized for her experience, but wanted to take matters into her own hands to right all the wrongs forced upon her.

This one is out Sept 14th 2021. Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! Read it in one day. Hard to say much without giving too much away but two guys met the wrong match with rich trust fund Claudia.

Thanks so much to the publisher and author for the ARC. I can't wait until this becomes a mini-series of a movie!

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Publishing for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

No. Just no. I feel as though I've wasted several hours of my life on this book. I loved the story. It was a page turner. I was sucked in pretty quickly and it was fantastic right up until the end. I honestly thought I was missing part of the book. What felt like the ending of a chapter, turned out to be the ending of the entire book. WTF? There was no ending. I was left just wondering what was going to happen next. It was entirely too open to interpretation. I was not impressed. All in all, the ending, (or lack thereof), was terrible.

This is a story of the aftermath of a sexual assault and it's told through several different perspectives, Claudia, our main character, her friend Trevor, her sister Edie, and one of her attackers, Justin. It was a brilliantly crafted story and it was well written and well thought out. It just lacks a conclusion or any type of closure. It's as if there will be a sequel, but it's not the kind of story that warrants a sequel. It's like the author got bored and just wanted to wrap things up quickly.

This was one of the biggest disappointments to me this year. I will give it 3 stars, however, because it is a good story and someone will enjoy the ending, I'm sure, but it's just not me.

What an enjoyable and entertaining read. This book had an entrancing plot with a guiding plot line.Absolutely recommended.

The Missing Hours starts out with a heart-breaking scene that makes your blood boil. Claudia wakes up with her skirt bunched up, her underwear missing, a black and blue eye, a split lip, and cuts on her face. She knows something bad happened at the party, but she is missing hours and is scared about what really happened, what she doesn’t want to admit to anyone or even herself. Soon a video surfaces of what went down on that horrible night that graphically shows what happened to Claudia.

It was hard to read this book without just simmering with anger. Claudia comes from a very wealthy happy family. She is super popular at NYU, and spends a lot of her time partying and drinking. Her sister, Edie, is giving birth when all this happens with Claudia and the whole family is angry that Claudia couldn’t even show up for the birth. She is too spoiled and would rather party than be with her sister. They don’t know what really occurred at this party and just assume she is drunk. They don’t even realize something else might have happened until Claudia goes missing.

Claudia slowly puts the pieces together about what happened and she has to overcome what has happened and learn to deal with living life after an assault. It was really really hard to read this because I know so many women get treated like it was their fault after a sexual assault. It never seems to be the man’s fault, especially when the man comes from a wealthy family and could never do such a thing like that. I felt for Claudia and had so much anger and sadness, because how does one overcome an assault? How do you move forward when you know that the rapist is going to walk free because they come from a rich family and people are labeling her as a slut? While this book was incredibly hard to read, it was fast paced and very well written.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I thought Dahl did an amazing job with about the first third of the book. I really felt Claudia’s confusion, anguish, and agony over the sexual assault. I thought the book was going to be about Claudia recovering those “missing hours” and how she was going to begin to heal, identify the perpetrators, etc. Once it took the vigilante justice turn, I got a little lost. And while I appreciate any author who keeps their books under 300 pages, it felt like everything happened way too fast. I think most of the chapters from Edie’s POV could have been cut and those pages dedicated to fleshing out the rest of the plot a little more. Overall, this was a fast-paced and well-written read that probably nets out around 3.5 stars for me.

A critical plot in today's media obsessed, revenge porn world.
Claidia stays at her NYU dorm for spring break- celebrating with friends, massively drunk. She wakes the next day - facial bruising. No memory of what happened. And knowing she did not consent to sex.
Claudia ends up at the health center - given antibiotics, tender advice regarding victim services including a rape kit. With the help of the sincerely nice young man on her floor, Claudia attempts to recover.
Until she receives the video.
Told from seveal POV, this story moves while lending critical thought to the events. Attraction complicates situations, alters personalities or maybe simply exposes people as the monsters they are.
Great read.

The Missing Hours: A Novel by Julia Dahl

NYU freshman Claudia Castro wakes, hungover and battered, with almost no memory of what caused her to be injured and hurting so much. She's pretty sure she had sex but she's having trouble piecing together the night before. It's not that she doesn't have a lot of wild nights in her past, even one or two that she can't remember, but she's vowed to chart a better path and redeem her less than stellar reputation. She's from a famous, wealthy family, and has thousands of Instagram followers but she's also garnered a lot of flak because of her bad behavior in public and in a sleazy documentary.

Once Claudia sees video proof of what happened to her, she drops out of sight. She's upset, embarrassed, angry, and hurt, but she's also rich and can buy whatever revenge she desires. With no regard to collateral damage, the harm she could do to the lives of others, she puts her plans into action. Will this make her feel better? Maybe not, overall, but it still feels good in a way.

I enjoyed the first part of the story, feeling bad for what happened to Claudia. She's made mistakes in the past, she made mistakes the night before, but that is no reason for her to be abused in any way. It's her own reputation that hinders her desire to go to the police, it can only work against her, so Claudia's going to fashion her own punishment for her attackers. That is what made me lose interest in the story, as it seems money can buy everything, and even if it can't fix wrongs, it can certainly revenge wrongs.

The story is told from many POVs, those of family members, her two attackers, a new friend who would do anything for Claudia, and the powerful father of one of the attackers. I couldn't feel invested in Claudia's way of dealing with what happened to her, especially when she seems to live behind a protective curtain of wealth so it seems she is in no more danger than what has already happened to her. I had a hard time feeling invested in this story of revenge.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.